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Extension of restaurant and lodging closure criticized

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association today criticized Governor Whitmer’s prolonged closure of indoor dining.

In a statement from MRLA President Justin Winslow, the association demanded more accountability from Michigan’s executive branch.

“There are more than 100,000 unemployed hospitality workers and thousands of small operators on the edge of bankruptcy all waiting for hope and direction,” Winslow’s statement read. “And once again it did not come. This is unacceptable and we should all demand more accountability.”

Michigan’s hospitality job loss is twice the national average measured as a percent working in the industry today compared to February 2020, when the pandemic began. The MRLA stated that Michigan has met all 3 of the “Key Metrics for Safe Restart” established by MDHHS: decreasing their 7-day average of COVID-19 cases per day, lowering the number COVID-19 hospitalizations, and lessening the state’s percent positivity rate.

Governor Whitmer said restaurants may be able to open on Feb. 1 if the downward trend continues.